As part of of a piece I am writing on attacks on war memorials, it has been interesting to look at the views of those who do not believe such attacks are of concern. One complaint is that we hear too much about past sacrifice and our Anzac history. But this makes no sense because how can we ever hear “too much” about people of purpose and courage? Our present society desperately needs more good examples - not fewer - of bravery and care for others in the face of adversity. I expect it is possible people who say these things are (deep down) worried and afraid they themselves could never meet such standards of service before self. So they sneer at the legacy rather than confront their own fear. But again this makes little sense, because we know probably the vast majority of people commemorated were themselves afraid and yet proceeded to step forward anyway. Fear and anxiety is part of being human and does not preclude trying to aim for high standards. Even though obviously most of us are not called to the kind of tasks past generations were, we can still take heart from their courageous example. I find this part of the discussion quite sad and am still working out how best to respond to it. I would welcome any thoughts.
Love of your home is healthy. The same people that condemn patriotism in the mainstream often show blind adoration for the nationalistic or even imperialistic ambitions of others and whilst looking down on our rituals will bow or take the knee for many other causes. Whether by birth or by choice patriotism is the driver to cohesion, it is the foundation of care be it the care to defend or protect. If you are truly concerned about the land being free from pollution then that concern is a patriotic act. If you can’t abide foreign players acting out hostile activities in your own country then you are a patriot. Of course we have rituals and traditions. Indeed many are recorded in a historically favourite light and because our culture excels at keeping records we know that sometimes our past is less than perfect. That makes us want to do better. Tribes and groups that keep no records or pass down history orally are far more likely to transmit a singular, embellished and inaccurate version of their past. Patriotism is the essence of a nation.
A myth is a fact transferred to a different context. We have to remember that immediately after WW1 most returned soldiers wanted nothing to do with what happened. Why because war is horrible. Sincere remembrance then catalysied memorial. Then the myth grew, getting polemic as time passed and consequently abused for commercial and political reasons. Are they attacking the idea of war, or using a polemic symbol to draw attention? I don’t think they are attacking the idea of respecting the dead? I actually think what is more dangerous is calling such memorials sacred, that someone how death in war is a religious act, in democracy that’s a slippery slope. Also as Alan Bennett wrote, ‘if you don’t want to investigate something build a memorial to it?’ There are other ways to protest and should be done, but a scareligous act it is not.
Let me posit some contrarian angles Margaret Joseph: 1. Why do we need statues as a story telling piece? Who's needs are we really catering for in this instance? 2. Why does this story need to be imposed, in a public space? Can't they simply be left in books to capture, for people who have chosen to engage with and reflect in their own time and space? 3. Could statues actually be disserving to telling the truth and fostering meaningful and fair dialogue into the future? 4. Could statues be promoting further wars through their glorification, rather than preventing them? 5. Why are there not statues of people who engaged in diplomacy, who have prevented war?
Whatever the view of sacrifice, service etc., it is arrogance, entitlement and a disgusting lack of respect for fellow humans that drives attacks on memorials. The mentality that justifies to itself the ‘right’ to ‘protest’, or seek attention in this way is not too far distant from the mentality that justifies to itself the ‘right’ to kill and injure in the pursuit of some cause or other.
Margaret Joseph the most concerning aspect - which law enforcement agencies seem oblivious to- is the fact that when we turn a blind eye to such disrespect of significant monuments we also promote further disrespect of the agencies of Govt, the Police being one. It becomes a donward spiral…easily rectified if local police did their job.
"One complaint is that we hear too much about past sacrifice and our Anzac history." I'd proffer that many of the same people wouldn't have the same qualms about wall-to-wall, and often partisan, media coverage of the cause du jour.
Well said, as always, Margaret. I particularly love your sentence: "Fear and anxiety is part of being human and does not preclude trying to aim for high standards." That certainly resonates with me, and with many others I suspect.
Hear, hear - thanks for sharing 👍
Director, Human Capital Consulting at Deloitte
4moI take a different view re the comments you highlighted. I think it is more nuanced. Some sneer but many hold genuine concerns with ANZAC “history”, some have served often with distinction. ANZAC history is as much mythology as fact…it is what we want it to be rather than the brutish reality. It is embellished and burnished with sharp edges dulled & uncomfortable surfaces smoothed to make it palatable & attractive. Not unusual for any country… Successive governments of both flavours politicised commemoration & sanctified security as opposed to reflecting on war’s seriousness & its resulting death’s & destruction, and importantly the “so what” for the future. This has leaned towards self serving jingoism & soft nationalism. Amplifying factors are: $500 million for the AWM - opportunity cost. I question such a large sum thinking it would have been better spent on other mechanisms to support service personnel (current & former). Brereton & BRS defamation- many younger folks (in the recruiting zone) question the ADF and are confounded by ANZAC Mythology versus messy distressing reality. So while I do not condone, & condemn the vandalism, I’m not surprised given what I’ve articulated about the nexus between politics & ANZAC.